ORPHEUS WARBLER. 
Curruca Orphea, Mzhz. 
Bec-fin Orphée. 
AttHoucH the present species differs in a trifling degree from the more typical examples of the genus 
Curruca, especially in having a stouter form of beak, which is more deep than wide, we do not feel ourselves 
at liberty to separate it on such slender grounds, as its general habits and form overbalance the minutiz 
alluded to. 
The Orpheus Warbler is an inhabitant of the southern provinces of Europe, and we have more than once 
received it in collections from India. According to M. Temminck, it is very abundant in Italy, particularly 
in Piedmont and Lombardy, and the southern departments of France. It is accidentally met with in 
Switzerland and the adjacent districts, but never occurs in more northern latitudes. On referring to the 
valuable little work of Professor Savi on the Ornithology of Tuscany, we learn that it is there a migratory 
bird, and much resembles in habits and manners the Common Whitethroat (Curruca cinerea, Bechst.). Its 
food consists of insects and berries, and it builds in bushes often in company with others of the same species. 
M. Temminck states, that in addition to bushes it also selects holes in ruins, old walls, or under the eaves of 
isolated buildings, as a site for incubation. The eggs are four or five in number, nearly white, irregularly 
marked with yellowish blotches and small brown dots. 
The male has the top of the head and ear-coverts brownish black ; the whole of the upper surface is of a 
cinereous brown, with a tinge of olive, the quills and tail being rather darker ; the outer feathers on each 
side of the latter are white, tinged with reddish brown, which prevails more decidedly on the flanks and 
under tail-coverts. 
The female resembles the male, except that the head is of the same colour as the rest of the plumage. 
Our Plate represents a male and female of the natural size. 
